A Seaside Adventure

It's been three-and-a-half years since my last visit to the quaint, seaside village of Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae. Surprisingly, very little has changed at all. There is still very little to do (especially if the weather is poor) other than cycle 12 miles around the island.
This visit was with the Lauderdale Park Association, a community group from Hyndland (a small neighborhood in Glasgow's west end). We were invited to join a group of 60+ on a day-trip out to Millport - we probably should have been somewhat concerned when we showed up with the two youngest children on the trip.
High winds and scattered showers made for a full day getting acquainted with two of Millport's four pubs - the two most child-friendly ones. Patrick, Jasheen, Gabrielle, Isabelle and I took an hour-and-a-half tour bus journey to an island off the west coast of Scotland to hang out in a couple of pubs. Well, at least it was good family time... sort of. Due to the excessive traveling (bus, ferry, stroller, etc.), Isabelle missed her scheduled feeds and naps and by 3:00pm she was wrecked. There was no consoling her so Jasheen opted to get a lift home from one of the women that had driven herself. Jasheen and Isabelle left early and Patch, Gaby and I stayed on.
It wasn't a total loss, looking back. We engaged in much more conversation with some friends and new friends than we would have done had the weather been better. I got to share a bit more about what we're doing in Scotland. I love the conversational pause that occurs when I say that I'm a minister of religion. It's important to detail the "religion" part of my title as "ministers" here generally refer to parliament. Typically, the conversation doesn't appear to change on the surface, but there is usually a brief gaze from other people as they mentally retrace their words and actions of the day, wondering if they've "sinned" in the presence of a minister. I don't allow this mental pause to linger for long, usually adding, "Not that kind of minister." Meaning, I'm not the pastor of a church.
Following this kind of revelation there is usually either a radical change in dynamic for the remainder of the conversation, or people instantly feel like they can 'talk' to you - share their thoughts, questions, problems, etc. I think a little of both happened on Saturday.

All in all, it was a productive trip, despite the undesirable conditions. Relationships were made and strengthened. And we learned the valuable lesson that we're not quite ready for a full-day excursion with our 20-month-old and our 11-week-old.

Word to the Millport-bound: Bring your golf clubs or your bike (or rent one). Go when the weather is nice. Leave your small children behind.